Cattle-stanchion



(No Model.) 7

A. MURD'OGK. CATTLE STANUHION.

No. 564,213. Patent ed July 21, 1896.

lmicl ldr Uh O O I W asses o x v clqndrgcys. 9/56;

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

ALBERT MURDOOK, OFUNION GROVE, ll ISCONSlN.

CATTLE-STANCHION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 564,213, dated July 21, 1896.

Application fil d March 19, 1895. Serial No. 542,397- (No model.) 7

T0 aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALBERT MURDOCK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Union Grove, in the county of Racine and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Cattle-stanchion, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an, improvement in cattle-stanchions, and the object in view is to provide improved means whereby either stanchion may be released and opened or closed independently of the others.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will appear in the following description, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a series of cattle stanchions constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a front view of the same, partly in section, the locking-links being elevated or disengaged from the movable sides of the stanchions.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the figures of the drawings.

1 designates a frame comprising twin parallel sills 4 and parallel top bars 5, connected by fixed uprights 2, which are interposed between the sills and top bars and are extended above the latter, as shown at 9. The fixed uprights form the stationary sides of a series of stanchions with which cooperate the movable sides 3, the latter being pivoted at their lower ends between the sills and swinging at their upper ends between the top bars by which they are guided. Contiguous to each swinging or movable side is an inclined stopbar 8, secured at its extremities between the sills and top bars. Stop-blocks 7 are also employed to limit the inward swinging movement of the movable sides 3 when the latter reach their operative positions, said blocks being arranged in the parallel-sided guides 6, which are formed by the spaces between the top bars.

The beveled upper extremities 10 of the sides 3 project above the plane of the upper edges of the top bars 5 and are engaged by locking links or loops 11, pivoted to said top bars, when the sides are in their operative positions, and the means which are illustrated in the drawings for disengaging these locking-loops from the extremities of the movable sides consists of the cable 12, secured at one end, as at 17, to one of the terminal extensions 9, extended through a guide-eye 14 onthe other terminal extension 9 and threaded at intermediate points through the loops 11, the points of intersection of the cable with the extensions 9 being above the plane of the top bars, whereby when the cable is strained to elevate it to a horizontal position between the points 14 and 17 the locking-loops are elevated to the inclined position shown in Fig. 2 to disengage the upper extremities of the movable sides 3. Intermediate points of the disengaged cable 12 pass through vertical parallel-sided guides 13 on the intermediate extensions 9. The connection between the movable sides of the stanchions, to provide for closing them simultaneously, includes a rod' 22, threaded through vertically slotted brackets 24, secured, respectively, to said movable sides, the slots 23 in the brackets being of such a length as to allow the movable side of one stanchion to swing outwardly to its open position, while the corresponding sides of the other stanchions are in their closed position, whereby one of the stanchions may be opened to release one animal without aifecting the others. In order to communicate motion from this rod 22 to the movable sides, respectively, I employ adjustable collars 24, secured to the rod at the outer or rear sides of the slotted brackets 24, and it is obvious that these collars may be adjusted to occupy such relative positions as to properlyclose all of the stanchions simultaneously when the rod is moved longitudinally to the proper position. Furthermore, inasmuch as the collars 2t are secured to the rod by means of set-screws 25, any desired number or all of the movable bars may be connected for simultaneous operation without affecting the remaining stanchions. In other words, if it is desired to connect a series of the stanchions for simultaneous operation while others are left free for independent adjustment, the desired number of movable bars may be connected to the rod 22 by securing the collars contiguous to said movable bars in proper positions to engage the same while the remaining collars are left loose. The slotted brackets allow independence of movement without cramping. In order to move this rod 22 in a direction to.close the stanchions, I employ an operating-cable 18, attached at one end to a lever 19, traversing direction-pulleys and 21, and attached at the other end to an eye on the extremity of the rod, and furthermore, I employ a cable 26, also attached to said eye of the rod and extending through a staple or keeper at the contiguous end of the frame. Thus the stanchions may be closed by a person standing at either end of the frame.

In order to facilitate the release of the locking-loops 11 when the tension upon the cable 12 is diminished, I employ aweight 16, or its equivalent, attached to said cable adjacent to the point of attachment 17 of the cable to the terminal upright.

From the above description it will be seen that I have provided a simple construction and arrangement of parts adapted for either simultaneous or independent movement to open and close a series of stanchions, the ad justment necessary for connecting or disconnecting a stanchion from the operating means consisting simply in operating a set-screw by which one of the connecting-collars is secured to the rod 22.

The inclined stop-bars 8 not only limit the outward movement of the movable sides of the stanchions, but, by reason of their inclined position, effectually close the spaces between said movable sides and the adjoining uprights, to prevent cattle from arranging their heads upon the wrong side of the movable members. Said stop-bars also serve as braces to strengthen the frame of the structure.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim is-- Thecombination with a frame having parallel sills and top bars connected by stationary uprights, and movable stanchion sides pivoted at their lower ends to the sills and operating at their upper ends between the top bars, of lockin g devices for securing said movable sides in their operative positions, brackets secured respectively to said sides and provided with alined vertical slots, an operating-rod passed through said slots, collars adjustably secured to the rod adjacent, respectively, to the slotted brackets, and means for communicating longitudinal move ment to the rod, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

ALBERT MURDOCK. WVitnesses:

HENRY MATHEWS, D. N. COLLAR. 

